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Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Today’s feature at the Spa, being run as the fifth race, is the Troy Stakes for 3-year-olds and older males sprinting 5-1/2 furlongs on the Mellon Turf Course.

It’s basically a three-horse race on paper among Bridgetown (8-5), Perfect Officer (3-1) and Regally Ready (7-2). There’s no reason to believe that it won’t be one of those three that will be there at the line.

Bridgetown is a worthy favorite. Todd Pletcher has had him going great guns for three seasons now. The 5-year-old Speightstown colt loves what he’s doing with a (13) 6-4-1 slate in turf sprints, and especially likes it here, given his (4) 3-0-1 mark. He’s earned his 123-pound assignment.

Perfect Officer finished ahead of Bridgetown last out after the latter made a premature move to the lead, middle-moving into a :44-flat half mile, finishing second without threatening the streaking Fiddlers Patriot.

Given that Tony Dutrow is 35% efficient third time off the layup, he likely figures to improve here.

But it’s Regally Ready who is the most intriguing for several reasons. First, he has earned the best Equiform figures consistently and he has, on balance, kept better company than his two rivals here.

It is his ability on off ground, however, that clinches it. His lifetime best performance figure was earned in that scenario and he’s won the last three times he’s raced on something other than firm ground.

He was without his usual speed returning from a freshening after two runs in Dubai and now shows up here for Steve Asmussen who’s won eight races at this stand, most of them with Julien Leparoux, who has the call today.

There is some question as to whether he’s experiencing some Dubai hangover, therefore accept no less than 3-1, and key-box in exactas with his rivals here.